The ECOWAS Parliament is urging stronger cooperation between governments, businesses, and citizens to boost regional trade in West Africa, stressing that more participation in cross-border commerce is key to tapping into the subregion’s economic potential.
Kabeer Garba, the Director of Parliamentary Affairs and Research at the ECOWAS Parliament, representing Speaker Mémounatou Ibrahima, made the call at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday. The event unveiled a lineup of activities to celebrate the institution’s 25th anniversary, organized in collaboration with the private sector.
Mémounatou Ibrahima emphasised that regional trade and innovation should bring tangible economic benefits to people across West Africa. She explained that the Parliament was established to make sure the voices and interests of the people are represented in the regional integration process of the Economic Community of West African States. She added that the success of ECOWAS programs largely depends on how aware and involved citizens and businesses are.
“The Parliament is supposed to represent the people of the West African region. Our greatest strength as an ECOWAS institution is the fact that we represent the people. We are providing a voice for the people,” he said.
He pointed out that many people, especially small-scale traders and entrepreneurs, are still unaware of the opportunities offered by regional integration frameworks. He added that programs like the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme make it easier for traders to move goods across borders and set up businesses in other member states with fewer restrictions.
Garba emphasised that getting more people involved in these programs is key to boosting economic integration and making sure regional policies lead to better living standards for everyone.
“The idea is that the Parliament should be able to conscientize the people and carry them along so that they take maximum advantage of these programmes that exist within ECOWAS,” he said.
He mentioned that regional trade and innovation would be key highlights of the activities planned to celebrate the Parliament’s 25th anniversary.
“ECOWAS is not meaningful to the people if it does not boost their welfare. If we are talking about trade and innovation, that is very key because, beyond explaining the programmes, we also have to think about how the people will fare and how to put food on their table,” Garba added.
At the briefing, Victoria Akai, CEO of Duchess Naturals Limited, mentioned that the private sector is teaming up with the ECOWAS Parliament to turn regional policies into real economic opportunities for both businesses and citizens.
Akai mentioned that the anniversary program will focus on boosting entrepreneurship, encouraging innovation, and promoting cross-border trade throughout West Africa.
“As the private sector continues to expand its role across trade, innovation and investment, ECOWAS institutions remain critical partners in shaping a more integrated and prosperous regional economy,” she said.
She said the year-long anniversary program would unite policymakers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and young people from various ECOWAS member states.
She believes that initiatives like the ECOWAS Smart Challenge will inspire innovation among young entrepreneurs, while regional trade forums and community outreach efforts will help build stronger economic networks throughout the subregion.
Olori Boye Ajayi, Managing Partner of Borderless Trade and Investment, noted that the anniversary program would serve as a platform to strengthen collaboration between governments, businesses, and development institutions.
Boye Ajayi said the initiative is designed to bring together policymakers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and civil society groups to boost regional cooperation and economic integration.
“What we intend to do is to bring together policymakers, entrepreneurs, innovators, youth and civil society to deepen regional collaboration,” she said.
She shared that a series of business-to-business forums and policy discussions will be held in major West African cities to boost investment and foster trade partnerships.
The upcoming events will be held in cities such as Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Accra, Lomé, Freetown, Lagos, and Abuja, bringing together stakeholders from across the region to explore fresh economic opportunities. Financial institutions are also expected to play a critical role in supporting cross-border trade and investment.
On the sidelines of the briefing, Biodun Ariyo, Head of Global Trade and Structured Finance at Providus Bank, noted that banks play a crucial role in boosting regional trade by providing better access to financing and facilitating cross-border transactions.
“One of the key ingredients is trade, and that’s why we are quite happy to partner with the ECOWAS Parliament as well as other institutions that are part of it,” Ariyo said.
He said that better financial collaboration and networking platforms could help businesses grow beyond national borders and boost the region’s economic growth.
“Trade spread needs some networking, and this is just a channel to get that done because essentially, if there is no exchange of goods, services and ideas, there will be no need for trade,” he added.
The ECOWAS Parliament was created to give West African citizens a voice in the regional integration process after a protocol was signed on August 6, 1994. Its first session took place on November 16, 2000, in Bamako, Mali.
Officials announced that the anniversary program will take place across several ECOWAS member states, wrapping up with a major closing ceremony in Abuja in November 2026. The event will bring together regional leaders, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders to review progress in boosting West Africa’s economic integration and plan the way forward for future cooperation.
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